Inside WD-40’s Slick New Headquarters

The company’s homey new digs in Scripps Ranch pays homage to its past and the industries that made it a success

The WD-40 Company has been reinventing itself ever since its founders figured out that the solvents and degreasers they were creating for the aerospace industry might also be useful to consumers with squeaky doors and rusty lawnmowers.

While WD-40’s worldwide workforce has grown from 3 to 450 over the years, and its product mix has expanded well beyond that flagship lubricant in the blue and yellow can, its San Diego headquarters had been stuck in a bygone era until last August, when they moved from the Morena District to a two-story, 42,000-square-foot building in Scripps Ranch.

Hughes Marino did the real estate and construction management, ID Studios designed the interior, and IES Communications installed the latest in connectivity, including Cisco Spark Boards for wireless video and audio conferencing.

The open floor plan lends itself to collaboration, innovation, and even relaxation for the local staff of 120, says company spokeswoman Wendy Kelley. Industrial design elements evoke some of the fields that use WD-40 products, like the automotive and aviation industries.

For all that’s modern about the new HQ, there are also nods to WD-40’s legacy. The steps of the central staircase are painted with “Rocket Chemical Company 1953,” then numbered 1 through 40 to represent the 40 attempts it took chemists to get that first water displacement (WD) formula to work. The final stair step says “Success!” below a black-and-white photo of the original company building.

Open Concept: ID Studios designed WD-40’s brightly lit lounge and kitchen area with employee collaboration in mind. A faux fireplace, an incandescent light installation, colorful shelving, and wingback chairs give the space a coffee shop vibe.
Work It: The offices have traditional desks, computer workstations, and fluorescent lighting, but include glass walls and low partitions to invite greater transparency and privacy at once.
Play Time: The break room has foosball, table tennis, and shuffleboard tables; wall-mounted TVs, a mix of seating options including a six-seat bar, a chalkboard for brainstorming sessions, and floor-length windows.
Wall Art: Employees collected license plates from all over the world for a wall displaying WD-40 products. The plates pay homage to one of their biggest clients, the automotive industry, while also hinting at the brand’s global reach, says spokeswoman Wendy Kelley.
A Step Up: A skylight brightens a cable-railing staircase and photo of the company’s original 1950s headquarters. The steps are numbered 1 through 40 to represent the number of attempts it took chemists to get the namesake water displacement formula to work.
Work-Life Balance: WD-40 outgrew its Morena District location, where every last inch was used for employee work spaces. The new Scripps Ranch office has enough square footage to fulfill a longtime staff request: an exercise room, designed by Out-Fit.